Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Man Arrested In Latest DC Trans Shooting

I commented briefly on this latest incident involving a Washington DC transwoman being shot in our nation's capitol and it seems as though the DC Metro Police Department has the alleged perpetrator of it in custody.

According to the Washington Post and MPD officials, 20 year old northwest Washington resident Darryl Willard surrendered yesterday and was charged with assault with intent to kill while armed.

The unidentified transwoman he shot knew Willard and was wounded while walking in southeast DC.  She was hospitalized and is expected to survive the shooting.

In addition to that case MPD is still trying to determine whether the death of an unidentified person found unconscious, wearing makeup and carrying light colored heels on Sunday was due to foul play or natural causes. 

MPD is not only trying to determine if the aged 20-35 person who appears to be of Hispanic or Middle Eastern descent is a TBLG community member, but are awaiting results of a toxicology reports from the medical examiner's office.

It is part of a wave of incidents in recent weeks aimed at transpeople in the District of Columbia that has alarmed and raised concerns among District of Columbia TBLG community activists and trans community leaders such as Ruby Corado and Earline Budd.

"The transgender community is now in crisis." Corado stated at a Monday press conference called by the DC Metropolitan Police Department.

While this arrest is a step in helping to ease that crisis, it's fairly obvious that sustained comprehensive longterm action is needed to ratchet down the anti-trans hatred that is having deleterious effects on the lives of transpeople in our nation's capitol.

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